"Lee and Garasia are excellent lawyers, punctual and professional. They are dedicated to going above and beyond the usual level of service to meet your client's needs. Their staff is very knowledgeable, friendly and polite. I would highly... recommend this firm to anyone." Read More

"I would definitely recommend Mr.Lee and Garasia as an immigration attorney because they did a great job with my case i.e. of Adjustment of Status (i-485). Mr. Lee helped us in each and every detailed information and prepared to the best of it. It was all well done and would like to appreciate." Read More

"I would like to thank my lawyer Mr Lee & Garasia and the staff for all immense help and patience throughout this entire process, I really appreciate your constant attention to my case, as well to my questions and my concerns. You've really made this process much more comprehensive to me, which I greatly appreciate." Read More

"Mr. Lee and Ms. Garasia did a great job with my renewal of my permanent residence application. They help prepare the paperwork with such a great attention to details and accuracy. I will recommend the law firm every time." Read More

"Mr. Lee did a great job with the renewal of my permanent residence application. My case was very time sensitive and they worked really fast on my case with great detail and accuracy. I will recommend the law firm every time." Read More

"I would recommend Attorney Paris Lee for anybody who needs immigration consultation. Mr. Lee is THE lawyer who respects and cares clients. Mr. Lee is professional and honest. Bottom line, preparation for the results and NO BS!" Read More

"Stalin - Lee did a wonderful job, Got my wife her visa in one year. He is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend him for all your immigration needs." Read More

"Hello. I appoint him as my immigration lawyer and that way he solved my cases was truly amazing. He was so honest and knowledgeable for his work.He solved my all family imigration issues and because of his effort we were able to get done our immigration work done successful. Thank you lee and garasia." Read More

"Lee & Garasia stand for accountability and responsibility. They are reliable, honest and are always constructively looking for a solution.. A big thanks :)" Read More

Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants

By Paris Lee of Lee & Garasia, LLC on Thursday, September 19, 2013.

Though there hasn't been much talk of Congress taking up immigration reform this month, there have been a couple of interesting developments that tangentially involve immigration. On the one hand, the California legislature recently passed a watershed bill (28-8 in the Senate and 55-19 in the Assembly) that will allow the State to grant driver licenses to illegal/undocumented immigrants. Governor Jerry Brown has indicated that he will sign the bill, which by some estimates can potentially affect 1.4 million people. However, these driver licenses will apparently not be identical to regular driver licenses and will bear some sort of indication that identifies and distinguishes the holder as an individual who is not lawfully here. Moreover, according to some newspaper accounts, the license will explicitly state that it cannot be used as proof of eligibility for employment, voter registration, or public benefits. So while this bill is a tremendous step forward in recognizing and regulating the needs of the undocumented population to drive, it obviously bears a darker side that could potentially expose those who it intends to benefit to discrimination.

On the other hand, this bill and its impending passage into law stand as a stark foil to what is going on in Arizona, which has taken its ultra-conservative stance against immigration to a higher level. Just this week, the state apparently announced a policy change in recent court pleadings that will further tighten and restrict the granting of driver licenses. As it stands, Arizona already is one of only two states that is not granting driver licenses to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival ("DACA") recipients. (Fortunately, our great state of New Jersey is not the other one.) DACA grantees are those young adults who entered the country before the age of sixteen and who have remained in the country since 2007 and have graduated from high school. Under the DACA program, these individuals qualify for two-year protection from removal and may apply for work authorization. Even though close to 16,000 of these individuals already granted DACA status in Arizona cannot be removed, they also cannot apply for and receive a driver license. Some estimate that close to 80,000 young adults eligible for DACA live in Arizona. The State has now extended that ban to include apparently other people granted deferred status and deferred enforced departure ("DED"), not just those who are DACA grantees. For example, victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation will no longer qualify to receive a driver license in Arizona notwithstanding their protected status under our federal immigration laws. Needless to say, this measure is extremely restrictionist and if not stricken down, will impair and hamper the ability of the immigrant population in Arizona, authorized by our federal government to be here, to live and work there. Hopefully, the Courts will make the right decision.

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